§ Mr. HOHLERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many naval writers have been demobilised since the 2nd of June last at each of the naval ports, and how many civilians have been employed during that period at each of the ports to do those duties; and why so few writers were demobilised and so few civilians entered at Chatham compared with the other ports during the six weeks preceding the 2nd of June?
1381W
§ Dr. MACNAMARAWith regard to the first portion of the question, the numbers are as follows:
From Portsmouth … … … 104 From Devonport … … … 92 From Chatham … … … 124 With regard to the second portion of the question, the numbers are as follows:
At Portsmouth … … … 117 At Devonport … … … 77 At Chatham … … … 13 With regard to the third portion of the question, the assumption made by my hon. and learned Friend is incorrect. Chatham did not demobilise fewer writers than the other ports during this period, but more than either of the other two, and though fewer civilians were entered than at Portsmouth, more were entered than at Devoport.